How do the social and economic characteristics of regions relate to these ideas in modern society?
WITT: Decentralized regional economies are most practical in areas where people both live and work in the same place, like the center of large cities and in smaller communities and rural regions. It’s more difficult in suburban areas where most people live in one area and work in another. Berkshire County is well suited to this. The Berkshires have an intrinsic understanding of these ideas because we have a long history of independence and self-reliance going all the way back to colonial times. With this tradition, we are well-placed to respond to shifting economic conditions. Our population is flexible, and we can adapt to changes. This characteristic provides a workforce that can handle multi-level tasks and meet the changing needs of employers. The population is responsive to entrepreneurial opportunities, note the good success of Bershire Enterprises. The nature of the Berkshire economy is also well-suited to regionally based development. For example, we still have a number of loca
